Feds confirm Walker's job-growth data

JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker's administration says the job-growth numbers he made public earlier than normal have been verified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development spokesman John Dipko told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the BLS has confirmed Wisconsin jobs grew by 23,608 in 2011. Dipko provided the AP with an email from BLS confirming that the data had been verified, but the final jobs number was not included in that email.

Dipko says the number is based off the data that received the final BLS sign-off. He says the state will publish those numbers on its website Friday.

Walker's Democratic opponent in Tuesday's recall, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, accused Walker of "cooking the books" and trying to spin the numbers to his advantage.

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